Calculating machine,



J. C. WAHL.

CALCULATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FIHID SIN-20, I911. 1,314,105. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEEY I 1/0/2/4 CT Wa/lj.

J. C. WAHL.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APrucAnou flLco SEPT-20. 19:1.

1 ,3 14, 1 O5. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. WAHIi, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE WAHL comm, OI WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CALCULATING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented hu 2c, 1919.

Application filed September 20, 1911. Serial 1e. sconce.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN C. WAHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Calculating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to calculating machines, such as the calculators attached to typewriters, and more particularly to the reversing of the calculator from addition to subtraction and an accompanyin shifting of the typewriter polychrome rib n so that the ribbon will print the subtracted numbers in a different color from the added ones.-

The calculator illustrated here is the Wahl machine now on the market and dcscrib in quite a number of issued patents among them No. 893,719, issued to me July 21, 1908. The ty iewriter chosen for illustration is the new emington, model #10.

The specification is accompanied by the drawings of which:

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the t pewriter and calculator just mentioned:

F1 2 is an enlar ed view of the connection lietween the ca culator and the ribbon shifting parts, already shown to a smaller scale in the left ortion of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 s ow elevations from the leftside of the parts on the calculator immediately concerned with the shifting of the ribbon. Fi 3 shows the parts in adding position an Fig. 4 shows t em in subtractposition.

lg. 5 shows a plan view of a detail of the reversing cam.

Fig. 6 shows a detached plan view of the parts on the ribbon shifting shaft taken part]; in section along the plane 66 of igz 7 shows a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 8 shows a section of the same taken along the plane 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pointer spring piece.

The typewriter is the ordinary Remington typewritter now on the market. To illustrate it, there are represented its framework 1, the lett keys 2, the numeral keys 3. Of course there are supposed to be present key levers, links, typebars, escapement, carriage, and the other mechanisms which are to be found upon a typewriter, and which enter into its construction. But as the do not form a part of the invention, and the bringing of them into the explanation or the drawin would tend to confuse rather than to clarify, they will not be referred to in greater detail.

To represent the calculating machine, there is present a master mechanism, under the cover 4. The master mechanism includes the master wheel 7. There are also present the totalizer 5 and the carriage bar 6. As usual the totalizer contains carrying wheels 8 which coiiperate with the master wheel and pass over and mesh with it during the operatlon of the machine. The exact construction and operation are thoroughly described in the above cited Patent, Jo. 893,719 to which reference is made for a detailed description of the parts.

A's also described in said atent, the calculating machine is rovide with a reversing shaft 10, this is he mechanical equivalent of rod 54, Fig. 5, of the above-mentioned patent. This is capable of being manually moved into either of two positions. When it is in one osition, it is so connected with the master w eel 7 that its rotation will produce addition. -When the shaft is in its other position, the master wheel will rotate in the o posite direction and will thus produce su traction. Mounted upon the left part of the calculator is the plate 11 forming a portion of the framework of the machine. Forming a part of said plate is an ear 12 which serves as a bearing for the left end 13 of the reversin shaft 10. Fastened in 13 is a pin 14 which is firmly secured therein by a set screw 15. Pivotally mounted u on a screw 20 'fastenedyinto late 11 is t re reversin handle 21 which as formed thereon at its nt portion the reversing finger piece 22. Hi 'dly fastened to the reversing handle is t e reversing cam 23 which has extendifig therefronran arm 24 fastened to one end 0 an extension spring 25 whose other end is fastened to a stud 26 riveted into'the plate 11. The reversing finger piece is thus given aconstant tendency up yard and will rise if pushed down. The reversing cam 23 has also formed therein a circular groove 27 through which there enters into the plate 21 a screw 28. The ends 29' and 30 of the circular groove limit the motion of the reversa 1 1 change a: tlie'iiiae'iliite fitiliill 'itg 1 other portion 35 which again is icrpcndicular to the axis of the cylinder; he slots 33.-

3.4,arid 35 coiiperatewitlrthc pin 14: in the reversin shaft 10. It is'itbcieforccvident that the' epressingof the linger'piece 2-; will focuses. lengthwise motion of the reversing shaft in its bearings;antl ithejeongquent subtracting condition- 1 a 1 Normally the reversinq handle is in its up position, and the-calcu 'ator ls inits addi g conditlon. The two slotportions 33 and i 3 perpendicularr to the axis of the c vlil 1 drical cam are intentionallyffimnde longer than is necessary to coiipcrate with the re versing shaft. The pin Lhwilltthcrefore not contactnvith the cndsof-these-slots and there will thus heno strain on said pin due to the manual operation of the reversinghandle. -The strain of spring' 230' one side or of thevfinger on the other side all taken by the screw 28. F i

In the operation of the niachine,-when the finger piece 22and kee )5; it depressed while he operatesthe; figure eys-of the machine. Upon his releasing of the reversing handle, the spring immed ately hririgts the reversing handlwback to itsnormal position and the machine thus-automatically returns to its adding condition. -;-l

For ,the correction of errors such, as the inseition of a. wrong number or digit into the machine, the sprin return of therevelsing lever is of marke advantageover the structure disclosed inmjrlpatent above re, ferred to. In the present stru'ctuiewhen a wrong number is insertedinfthe calculating adding position at, that time: thejfinger piece 22 is depressed and he'd depressed above recited method of correcting errors is much less liable to mistake than the method required with themachine' described in my above-mentioned patent, for in the latter case it is necessary. for the operator, after having'put the machine in a subsist-acting 'conditlon and inserted the error a second time, to restore the machine to'anadding condition before inserting the correct numoperator desires to subtract, hcdepma'ses the machine (assuming the machine to be in they adding.

her. In case this restoring is overlooked. there, results a second error. With the dcvice shown in my present application. it is necessary to hold the machine In the sub tracting coudition w hilc the error is being corrected, and as soon as pressure is withdrawn from the finger lilccc 32 the, spring 3.3 iiutomatically returns the nmchimto its proper condition.

- l h 'mctlnu-sltisnurccssary to subtract more thn'n oric numhcr'atn tinu and the necessity of kiueping; the rcvcrsim handle continufously dep ,sed durihgilic said subtraction trimmin s eiinii siiulte an annoyance. The niachinelnls therefore been prm-idcd with a ictainiiig handle 40 which pivotally 1 mounted u na screw 41 'fastcned into the plate 11; he retaining handle is provided with-a retaining finger iier-e 4i and a hook 43 which cooperates wit an extension 44 on thereversinglmnd-lc. "Th (XICIlslOll 44 is formed with a circular edge 45 and a radial cdgealfi. l .\ioru|ally the parts are in the positlon shown in Fig. 3 and it is evident thatthe dcprcssili" of the rcvcising handle will leave it unaffected by the retaining piece. But'whencvcr the operator grasps not only the reversinghandle, but'thc retaining handle as-wcll, then he brings them into the positionshown in F i. 4 where the hook 43 of the retaining handle is caught l|\'(.'1 the ra dial edge 46 of the reversin handle. '.-\9 the operator nowreleascs both handles. thc tension of swing-25 keeps "them in their caught posit|on','*and the reversing handle theretorei'emaius' in the subtracting posi tion. Torelease the same from the retaining handle, itis'suflicicnt to slightly depress the finger piece 22, whereupon the force of the spring 25 is removed from the hook 43. Thereupon said rctaiuing handle moves down 'under gravity in snllicient distance to release the reversing, handle. As soon as the operator removes his finger from the latter, it rises under the influence of its spring 25 and resumes its normal position for h The circular edge 45 of'the extension 4-! upon the reversing handle is for the purpose of preventing the retaining hook 43 from locking the reversing handlc until the latter is in its full depressed position.

Mounted m the framework of the typewriter the ribbon shifting shaft 50 which 0 ieratcs in the same manner as the one upon tic Remington #10 machine now on the market. That is, its rotation about its axis shifts the polychrome ribbon so that another portion thereof is struck by the type. The shaft is su ported at its front end by an indicator p ate 51 which fastened by two ins 52 to the framework tho typewriter.

otating with the shaft: is a pointer 53 which may thus be brought into either of two locations indicated by the radial sector marked R and B (for red and black) in Fig. 7. This pointer 53 is in front of the indicator plate 51. Rigidly fastened to the shaft 50 at the back of said plate is a spring piece 54 provided at its end with a small stud 55 which is adapted to enter into either of two holes 56 or 57 of the indicator plate 51. The entering of the stud 55 into either of these holes tends to keep the shaft in its placed position and this tends to retain the ribbon also in its corresponding position. The shaft 50 may, however, be forcibly twisted to withdraw the stud 55 from the hole in which it has entered, whereupon it may be brought to enter the other hole. Thus far the mechanism is absolutely similar to that found u on the ordinary Remington machine. ifs remarked above, however, it has been found advisable to combine the retain ing handle mechanism of the calculator with the ribbon shifting mechanism of the typewriter. This is accomplished as follows: livotally mounted upon a screw 60 fastened into the plate 1] of the calculator is a hell crank lever 61 which has a short arm 62 in which there is riveted a stud 63 which enters into a slot 64 cut into an arm 65 forming a part of the retaining handle 40. Extending from the bell crank lever 61 is another arm 66 which is fastened to one end of a link 67 whose other end is fastened to an arm 68 rotatably mounted upon the ribbon shifting shaft 50. The 0 crating of the retaining handle will there ore also rotate the arm 68 about said shaft.

The spring piece 54 rigidly fastened to the shaft 50 is formed with two extensions 70 and 71. Rigidly fastened to the shaft immediately behind the spring piece 54 is a collar 72 formed with two bevels 73 and 74. Slidably mounted upon the front portion of the shaft 50 is a knurled head 75 to which is rigidly fastened a spring pointer 76 which has thereon a, pointer 77 to indicate in what position the knurled head is placed, a slot 78 and a spring extension 79 whose end is formed into a bevel piece 80. The bevel 80 cooperates with the two bevels 73 and 74 of collar 72 and the spring extension 79 enters between the two extensions 70 and 71 which are rigidly fastened to the shaft 50. It is therefore evident that the knurled head 75 may be pulled forward or pushed back 'upon the shaft 50 and that bevel piece 80 will keep it in either of its located positions. Moreover the knurled head may be rotated about its axis and this rotation by means of spring 79 and the extensions 70 and 71 will be imparted to the shaft 50.

The slot 78 cotiperates with a in 81 fastened in the arm 68 but the in 81 is short and therefore enters the slot 8 onl when the knurled head is in its back position and does not enter the slot when the head is in its front position. It will thus be seen that when the knurled head is in its back position and the retaining lever be raised that the ribbon shiftin shaft will be rotated and the ribbon itseFf shifted. But that when the knurled hea 75 is in its front position any movement 0 the retaining lever will not afl'ect the shaft 50 or the ribbon, but that any rotation of the knurled head 75 will rotate the shaft and shift the ribbon. The mechanism ma therefore be so set that the retaining han 1e and ribbon will operate together and any operation of the retaining lever will cause the printing in a different color, and it may be so set that the calculator and ribbon mechanism will be disconnected from each other and neither affect the other. Again, when so disconnected the polychrome ribbon may be shifted without interference by hand. Moreover, even when the calculator and ribbon mechanism are connected, the operator still has a choice of reversing the calculator and simultaneously shifting the ribbon, or reversing the calculator without simultaneously shifting the ribbon.

As it requires some slight degree of force to overcome the tendency of the ribbon to remain in either of its placed positions, there has been added a pin 90 fastened in the reversin handle and an arm 91 to cooperate therewith extends from the retaining lever. When the reversing lever is released by the depression of its fin or piece 22 and the retaining handle and down under gravity sufliciently to release the radial edge 46, (the parts have suflicient lost motion for that purpose) the reversing handle under the influence of its spring 25 brings the pin 90 into contact with the arm 91 on the retaining lever. Thereupon, the further returning motion of the reversing handle forces the retaining handle back to its normal or lower position and thus simultaneously shifts the ribbon back to its normal position. It is thus seen that it is not necessary to go through a special manipulation to return the ribbon to its normal position, as the mere release of the reversing handle suffices for the urpose.

It can be seen that the depressing of the reversing finger piece 22 produces no effect upon the ribbon mechanism but that the raising of the retaining finger piece 42 not only Having thus described my mechanism, 1'

claim:

1. In a calculating machine, the combinahook have dropped tion of a reversing device adapted to place the machine in either adding or subtracting condition: mechanism tending to return the machine to adding condition if displaced therefrom: mechanism to operate the mat-t chine; and manually operable detent means to retain the reversing mechanism in its displaced "condition, and thus keep the machine in subtracting condition it" so desired, said detent means .being'adapted ta be manually operated independent of the action ofany other part ofsaid machine. t 2. In a calculating machineQthe combination of a reversing device ada iced to throw the machine into eitheran addin v or subtracting condition; a key lever-which hen up retains the machine in adding condition, and which when down, retains the machine in subtracting condition, and .whose mov ment changes the machine from one con tion to another; incansaconstanflytending to bring the kcv into its up posifion andv ma'nualLv operable detent me'ans to retain the ke v lcver in its down position to thus keep the machinein subtracting condition, substantially as described, said detent means being adapted to be oicrated nde pendent of the operation ofjany other part of said machine.

,3. In a calcuiating machine, capable orbeing put in adding or subtracting condition; manually operable reversing niecha= mam to change the maclnne from adding to subtracting condition; a spring col) )eratin with said mechanism and constantly tenting to place the machine in adding condition; a detent operative upon said mechanism to detain it in completely subtracting position against the force of the spring whereby the i'nechanism is either in completely subtracting condition or automaticall v returns to completely adding condition, said detcnt being adapted to be manually o erated independent of the action of any ot ier part of the machine.

4. In a combined typewriting and computingmachiuc, the combination'of a re versing device to set said machine in subtracting condition; a spring device tendin to restore said reversing device to an addition condition; a detent to hold said reversing device in the subtracting condition against the operation ofsaid spring device; a ribbon shift device ada ited to be operated simultaneously with sait reversin device;

and connections bet sen the said etent, re-

to restore said-gear reversing device to an addition condition; a detent tp hold said gear reversing device in the subtracting conition a'gainst the operation of said s ring device; a bi-chrome ribbon shift diavice ada ted to be operated simultaneously with sai gear reversi device; and connections between the said ctent, gear reversing devicoand bi-chrome ribbon shift whereby the restoration of said bi-chrome ribbon shift occurs simultaneous with the restoration of the gear reversing device to an addition condition on the release of said detent.

6., In a. combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination of a ear re ersm device to out the machine in a subtracting condition, a spring device tending to restore said gear reversing device to an addition condition; a detent to hold said gear reversing device in the subtracting condition against the o ration of said spring device, a ribbon siift device to be operated simultaneously with said gear regear reversing device and ribbon shift v'hereby the restoration of said ribbon shift occurs simultaneously with the restoration of said gear .i-eversing device to an addition condition on the release of said detent.

In a calculatingmachine, capable of being put in adding or subtracting condition: means to change it from one condition to the other; a manually reciprocatable helical cam to operate said means. said \helicalcam locking said means in adding condition at 0nc.end of its reciprocation, and in subtracting condition at the other end of its reciprocation.

8.1In acalculating machine, capable of being put in adding or subtracting condition: means to change itlfrom one condition to the other; a manually reciprocatable helical cam and pin to operate said means, said cam locking said means in adding condition at one end of its reciprocation, and in subtracting condition at the other end of its reciprocation.

' 9. In a calculating machine, capable of being put in adding or subtracting condition: means to change it from one condition 'to the other; a manually reciprocatablc helical slotted cam and pin to operate said means, said cam locking said means in adding condition at one end of its reciprocation, and in subtracting condition at the other end of its reci rocation.

10. In a caculating machine: a master wheel capable of being put in adding or subtracting condition; mechanism tending 18o wheel capable of being put in adding or,

subtracting condition; a key lever which when up retains the master wheel in adding condition, and which when down retains the master wheel in subtracting condition and whose movement changes the runster wheel from one condition to the'other; and means constantly tending to bring the key to its up position, substantially as described.

13. In a calculittirig machine: a master wheel capable of being put in adding or subtracting condition; mechanism tending to return the master wheel to adding condition -if displaced therefrom; mechanism to operate the master wheel; and manually op,- erable detent means to retain the returning mechanism in displaced condition, and thus keep the master wheel in subtracting condition if so desired.

v1:11. In a calculating mnchinez a master nee] capable of being put in adding or subtracting condition; a key lever which when up retains the master wheel in adding condition and which when down retains it in subtracting condition, and whose movement changes the master wheel from one condition to the other; means constantly tending to bring the key into its opposition; and manually operable detent means to retain the key lever in its down position to thus keep the master wheel in subtracting condition, substantially'as described. a

15. In a calculating machine: a. master wheel capable of being put in adding or subtracting condition; manually operable mechanism to change the master whcel from adding to subtracting condition; a spring cooperating with said mechanism and constantly tending to place the master wheel in adding condition; a detent operative upon said mechanism to detain it in com leciprocatablc helical cum to operate said means, sai helical cum locking said means in adding condition at one end of its reciprocation, and in subtracting condition at the other end ofits.reciprocation.

l7. In .a calculating machine: a master wheeLcapablecf being put in adding or subtracting condition; means to change the master wheel. from one condition to .the other; a manually reciprocutublc helical cam and pinto operate said mcuns. said cum locking said means in adding condition at one end of its reciprocation, and in subtracting condition at the other end of its reciprocation. 1 w a 18. In a calculating machine: a nnlstcr wheel capable of being put in adding or subtractingcondition; means to change the master wheel from one condition to the other; a' numuully rcciproculablc hclicnl slotted ram and pin to operate said means, said cam locking said moans in adding condition at one cnd of its reciprocation and insubtructing condition at the other cud of its mciplocatiou.

19. In a recording calculating machine: ribbon shifting moans to change thc color of the printing; reversing mechanism to change the machine from adding to subtracting condition: retaining means in retain the reversing mechanism in its subtracting condition when placed tbcrcin; the retaining-moons and ribbon shifting mcnns coii|uu'uti,ng-5so thnt a change in one produces a change in the other.

20(ln-a='oalcul-ating recording muchin whose calculating portion is :ulaptcd to be changed from adding to subtracting condition, and whose recording portion is adapted to be changed in condition so as lo print in another color: mechanism operating upon both the calculating portion and the recording portion to change the condition of both simultaneously; and disconnecting mechanism to establish a disconnection bc tween the calculating portion and thc recording portion whcrcby tbc. calculating portion may be changed without changing the rmordingqmrtion. l a

21. In a recording calculating machine, the combination of means to change the machine from an adding to a subtracting position. a record chungingmcans-adapted to cha'ngo the machine to print in a different color. said record changing means and calculation changing lncans being nornmlly connected, and means to render the calculating changing means imnmrntivc upon the record changing means whereby the calculating means may be changed from addition to subtraction without nll'ccting the rccordan-adding to a. subtracting condition, a record changing means adapted to change the machine to print in difl'erent colors, said record changing and calculatingchan means being normally connected, whereby operation of one operates the other, and means adapted to disconnect the means from the calculating changing means, whereb the record chang means ma cha so as to detcrmimi iiat the mac ine shall print in a difl'erent color without changing theealculating changing means.

23. In an adding and subtracting t writer printing in two colors: a color s aft to change the color of the printin a retaining reversing iever to change t e typewriter from adding to subtracting condition; a link uniting the color shaft with the retaining reversing lever so that a movement in one causes a movement in the other for the purpose described; and manually operable means for disconnecting the retaining reversing lever from the color shaft whereby the retaining reversing lever will be moved without moving the color shaft.

24. In a recording calculating machine: ribbon shifting means to change the color of the printing: reversingmechanism to chan e the machine from adding to subtractmg condition; retaining means to retain the reversing mechanism in its subtracting condition whenplacedtherein, the retaining means and ribbon shifting means 006 era ting so that a change in one produces a change in the other; and manually operable disconnecting means to disconnect the ribbon shifting meansjrpm the retaining means whereby a change in the ribbon shifting means wiil not produce a change in the retaining mechanism.

25. In a recording calculating machine: ribbon shifting mechanism to change the color of the printing; reversin mechanism to change the machine from a ding to subtracting condition; retaining mechanism to retain the reversing mechanism in its subtracting condition when placed therein. the

retaimngmechanism and' ribbon shifting mechanism coiipcrating so that a change in one produces a change in the other; and manually settablc disconnecting means to disconnect the ribbon shifting mechanism from the retaining mechanism whereby a change in the. retaining mechanism will not produce a change in the ribbon shifting mechanism.

26. In a recordin calculating machine: ribbon shifting mec anism to change the color of the printing; reversi mechanism to change the machinefrom ding to subtracting condition; retaining mechanism to retain the reversing mechanism in its subrecord changing ble of being manually located in either of two positions in one of which it connects the reversin mechanism and the ribbon shifting meciianism so that a change in one produces a change in the other, and in the other of which positions it disconnects the two, so that either may be changed without affecting the other. V

28. In a recordin calculating machine: ribbon shifting mefiianism to change the color of the printing; a reversing mechanism to change the machine from adding to subtracting condition; retaining mechanism to retain the reversing mechanism in its subtracting condition when displaced therein; and connecting means capable of being manually located in either of two positions in one of which it connects the retaining mechanism and the ribbon shifting mechanism so that :1 ohm in one produces a change in the other, and in'the other of which positions it disconnects the retaining mechanism and the ribbon shifting mechanism, that either may be changed without affecting the other.

29. In an adding and subtracting typewriter: a reversing lever to change the typewriter from adding to subtracting condition: a retaining lever to keep the reversing lever in its subtracting osition when laced therein: a ribbon shifting shaft to c ange the color of the printing: a knob on said shaft capable of being manually located in either of two positions. in one of which it connectsthe ribbon shifting shaft and the retaining lever whereby the movement of either produces a corresponding movement in the other, and in the other of which positions it disconnects the two whereby the movement of either does not afiect the other.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. WAHL. Witnesses:

E. W. S'ronznxnaon, A. S. Wnmsmrnmn. 

